I'm just starting out (getting a 650 for Christmas ) and I need to purchase power, primers, and bullets. About 80% of my shooting is with a Kimber Compact 45 and I need a general purpose round for IDPA, plinking, and range use. I'm assuming I'll need to go with a faster burning power due to the shorter barrel, but I don't want anything too hot, just clean and accurate.

Startin' out with the cheaper, plinker loads: Hard cast 185-grain or 200-grain semi-wadcutter bullets. Bullseye powder, as the roughly 4-grain loading gives lotsa loads for the money, although many others will work well. And anybody's large-pistol, non-magnum primers.

For IDPA, I don't know their requirements for any equivalent to IPSC's "Major" category. You might have some problems getting adequate velocity with the short barrel.

At a recent gunshow, I ran across a book which somebody has gone to a lot of trouble to put together. They went through a bunch of loading manuals put out by the various powder- and bullet-makers, and did a "one book, one cartridge" deal.

Lead projectiles are fine for target and for steel silhouette. My only complaint was cleaning the lead out of the barrel. I used a lead removal cloth as a regular routine which caused me to clean the barrel, de-lead the barrel, then clean the barrel again. Too much work. And no, I never loaded them hot....always a mild target load.
As a compromise, I started using copper plated lead bullets about a year ago. I shoot Ranier 200gr semi-wadcutters and have a lot less leading problems. Give them a try. I think you will be pleased in getting the best of both worlds.
Regards, Mikey

I think I'll go with the AA#2 to start with. I won a 8# jug of Data 2200 that Accurate had donnated to a IDPA match a couple of weeks ago, (thought that was nice of them so I'll throw a little loyalty their way). I'll also go with Federal primers (I've been shooting Red Box and have a couple thousand empties) I figure Federal brass/Federal primers.
On the advice of a few people hanging out at Wideners I'm going to go with a "Master Match" 230 grain FMJ Truncated Cone bullet. My reasons for choosing this bullet are: 1. The price $45/500 2. Several people at Wideners said that they had used them with great results. 3. I thought they looked cool. I don't think I'll have any feeding problems as my Kimber has been able to digest anything I've feed it so far.

My question is, what is the primary purpose of a truncated cone shaped bullet?

For target loads(~313 ft lbs ME, 840fps) I use 4.9gr of IMR Hi-Skor 700X (which is the same powder I use for 20 ga skeet loads) under a Carrolls, 200gr LSWC. It's accurate enough and easy to shoot a lot of.

For heavy loads(just for the rush) I use 8 gr of Alliant Power Pistol under a Rainier 200gr JSWC for about 1000fps or 9.2 gr under a Rem GS JHP 185gr for about 1100fps(this is a fairly hot load in the +P category).

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